Midterm 1 Multiple Choice Flashcards Preview

What is the genetic fallacy?

The fallacy of evaluating a statement based on who asserts it, not on the basis of the evidence

2

Why is fire not considered a living organism?

It is not surrounded by a selectively permeable barrier

3

According to the article “The Advocacy Trap”, what is the advocacy trap?

The tendency to get so invested in your position that you come to believe your opponents are evil

4

According to the article “Seeing Reason”, what is motivated reasoning?

Biased fact collection and reasoning driven by an assumed conclusion

5

Scientists studying Mars have been particularly excited about the possible biogenic origin of what gas or gasses in the Martian atmosphere?

Methane (and O2)

6

Why is the Streetlight Effect (also known as the Drunkard’s Search) relevant to our search for life on other planets and moons?

It wars us that our understanding of life here on earth might handicap us in our search for alien life

7

Classes of large bio molecules, such as starch, proteins, and DNAA. Each serve a single functionB. Do not have a repeating structureC. Are usually combinations of more than one class of macromoleculeD. Are made up of smaller units that are similar or identical to one anotherE. Are made up of vitamins - which is why we need vitamins

D

8

The Martian atmosphere is only 1% as dense as the Earth’s atmosphere. Why is it so thin?

The molten core of Mars cooled and solidified, causing it’s magnetosphere to weaken and allowing the solar wind to blast the atmosphere away

9

The moon Titan resembles Earth in that both possessA. Large water oceansB. Warm surface temperaturesC. Rivers, lakes, and an atmosphereD. Oxygen in the atmosphereE. Lightning as a source of energy

C

10

The interior of the moon Europa is kept warm by

Tidal deformations and friction due to the gravitational influence of its parent Jupiter

11

According to the article “Science gods for skeptics”, the author, Michael Sherman, cites research that suggestsA. People who believe in extraterrestrial intelligences (ETIs) are more likely to believe in a major religion than people who do not believe in ETIsB. ETIs must be godlike isn’t heir abilitiesC. Belief in ETIs offers meaning to existence similar to the meaning some people find in religionD. If we ever do make contact with any ETIs, that will spell the end of organized religion on earthE. The founders of major religions such as Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism might have been ETIs come to earth to help us solve our problems

C

12

In “The cosmonaut and the pope”, General O’Toole and John :Paul V discuss the aliens (the Ramans) with a focus on the issue of

Redemption

13

According to the article “Lend an Ear”, we might send sensing devices to the moon Europa in order to hear

Ice quakes

14

The mission that returned the most detailed and interesting data from the Saturn system wasA. ExplorerB. Mariner IVC. Cassini/HuygensD. GalileoE. Kepler